There is also an NHS Podiatry Clinic held on Thursday mornings. To make an appointment please telephone 0300 422 8534.

Community Nurse Team

The community nurse team is based at the surgery and offer skilled nursing care to patients that are housebound, temporarily unable to visit the surgery or who require a procedure that can be more appropriately completed in a home environment.

The team can be contacted on 01666 504252. Their core hours of work are 8.00am to 4.00pm and there is a 24-hour message service.

Other Clinical Services

All Adults

Adult Health Check We are participating in a government scheme to reduce the incidence of vascular disease (angina, heart attacks and strokes) nationwide, focusing particularly on the over-40s. In order to make this service as convenient as possible to you and to maximise the uptake of the scheme, you may find the nurses offering this service to you when you attend the surgery for other reasons. We hope you will take advantage of this opportunity to focus on your long-term health.

Private Medical Examinations

We are able to undertake a range of medical examinations covering your health and fitness. These include mortgage and insurance medicals, HGV, PSV, elderly drivers’, diving and pre-employment medicals and others. Medicals required under the Health and Safety and COSHH regulations are also available. Details are available from reception; there is usually a fee payable.

Women

We offer a range of services which are specific to women. If you think one of the following might apply to you, book in to see your doctor and discuss it.

Family Planning (Men Included!)

All the doctors are trained and experienced in advising on all aspects of contraception. In addition we are able to offer contraceptive coil insertions, cap fittings, injectable contraceptives and referrals for sterilisations.

Pre-conception

We strongly encourage women planning a pregnancy to consult their doctor in advance of conception for advice and screening with regard to folic acid (vitamin) supplements. Timely intervention can significantly reduce some of the medical risks of pregnancy to both mother and baby. Bring your partner if you wish!

Pregnant Women

Pregnancy is an exciting time and we are here to help ensure that you end up with the very best possible outcome. We work closely with the community midwives who can be seen here at the surgery during the week. For most women we are able to provide a comprehensive service throughout pregnancy, including during delivery. This means that you may not need to attend hospital outpatients at all.

Postnatal Care

Care and advice for you and your new baby will be given mostly by your community midwife. Help is available through the practice 24 hours a day should the need arise. Your doctor would like to see you eight weeks after delivery for a postnatal check.

Cervical Cytology (Smear Tests)

We strongly encourage all women who have ever been sexually active to have regular cervical smears from the age of 25. This helps us detect problems which might, if left untreated, lead to cervical cancer. The programme nationwide has been successful in saving the lives of thousands of young women, who often have young families. We are fully committed to supporting it.

Sexual Health Clinics

For young adults aged under 25 years, there is a weekly confidential clinic on a Thursday afternoon to see either nurse Anne or Dr Swanborough to discuss any contraception or sexual health matters. Routine depo injections or contraception pill repeats for those aged under 25 can also booked into this Health Clinic.

Gloucestershire has several sexual health clinics available for all ages. For the most up-to-date information and advice visit www.hopehouse.nhs.uk/services/.

The Very Young

We work with your community midwife and your health visitor to offer you a full postnatal and early childhood screening and immunisation programme.

Your New Baby

The new arrival should be checked by a doctor at birth and screened for blood disorders by the district midwife on day three (thyroid function and phenylketonuria). We recommend vitamin K to safely help prevent bleeding disorders. Regular weighing and measuring enables us to see that your baby is growing well, and development checks at home and in the child health clinic should help ensure that, should any problems arise, they are picked up promptly when they may be best dealt with. We encourage breast feeding whenever possible as this, amongst other things, will help your baby to fight the infections they will be faced with. Please also ask for our comprehensive leaflet - "Having a baby" - available from the midwife.

Children's Immunisations

It is most important that your child is properly immunised. The practice runs a comprehensive infant and pre-school immunisation programme in liaison with the health visitor. Parents are automatically informed when their child is due for the next injection. For babies born from 1st August 2017, the 6 in 1 vaccination (with hepatitis B) replaces the 5 in 1 vaccination. Older babies continue receiving the 5 in 1 vaccination progreamme. The schedule of vaccination is:-

Cot Death Prevention

We strongly advise you to encourage your baby to sleep on their back. Babies should not get overheated, especially at night. Avoid over-dressing them; do not use a duvet or quilt until they are a year old. A well ventilated bedroom free of cigarette smoke is also important, as is avoiding unnecessary medication.

The Over 75s

Many of you will probably be seeing your GP from time to time with medical problems and so will know your doctor well. All patients over 75 have a named GP who has overall responsibility for their care. This may include an entirely voluntary annual health check by a doctor or nurse.

Asthmatics

All our nurses are trained in the management of asthma, including childhood asthma and emergencies. Anne Green is our specialist asthma nurse. Apart from visits to your doctor when you have particular problems, we encourage all asthmatics on regular medications to attend our nurse-run asthma clinics on a regular basis. Research shows that hospital admissions, time off work and deaths from asthma are considerably reduced if asthmatics are regular attenders at an asthma clinic. Please make the effort to come if you are invited - we think you will find it worthwhile!

Diabetics

Diabetes is for life. If it affects you, you will live longer and with fewer medical problems if you are regularly seen, not just by your doctor but also in the nurse-run diabetic clinic. It is here that we can focus just on your diabetes and help you to achieve the best possible control of your blood sugar levels. We can also screen you regularly for the best early signs of the complications which sometimes develop. Early treatment means a much better outcome. The nurse will keep your own doctor informed and bring any problems to their attention. Alison Cole is our specialist diabetes nurse.

Influenza Vaccination

Influenza vaccination is available and actively encouraged for patients in ‘at risk’ groups. These are:

Children aged 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 at 31st August each year ie Reception, Year 1, 2, 3 or 4 at school. This group will be vaccinated AT THEIR SCHOOL by the school nurse, although those clinically 'at risk' can be vaccinated at their GP surgery

Flu vaccination is available from September each year. Please ask at reception or telephone to make an appointment.

Pneumococcal vaccination is also available at any time for patients aged 65 or more and in recognised risk groups. Please ask at reception.

Services to Specific Groups

Warfarin:

Patients on Warfarin have their INRs monitored and managed in-house by our practice nurses who have the equipment to take blood, test specimens and give results and advice immediately. Please make appointments in our blood clinics.

High Risk Drug Monitoring:

Patients who are on high risk drugs are monitored regularly. Please make an appointment in the blood clinic. Your doctor will have told you if this applies to you at the time the drug regime was commenced.

Minor Surgical Procedures

We undertake a range of minor operative procedures in the surgery’s treatment room, including the removal of skin lesions and foreign bodies, joint injections, contraceptive coil insertions and so on. Ask your doctor if you have something you would like looked at with a view to removal.

Travellers And Holidaymakers

The Phoenix surgery at Cirencester are pleased to offer a comprehensive travel advice and vaccination service. In order to obtain the best from our travel service, we request that you complete a questionnaire at least 6-8 weeks* before your departure date. A separate questionnaire must be completed for each person travelling, including children. Please complete, print and bring/send it to the surgery. Alternatively the questionnaire can be collected from Reception if you are not able to print at home.

NB. - If your trip involves more than one destination we would advise that you contact a specialist travel clinic regarding the vaccinations which you will require.

*If you are travelling at short notice you should speak to the reception staff who will advise if we can see you before you travel. Long stay travellers may require vaccinations spread over a number of months, therefore the sooner advice is sought the better.

Your form will be reviewed by a nurse and you will contacted by the reception team to arrange an appointment. You may require more than one appointment.

We are a registered yellow fever centre, so this vaccination can be given here.

Some vaccinations are free on the NHS, others can only be given privately.

The private vaccinations available are:

Hepatitis B

Rabies

Meningitis ACWY

Japanese Encephalitis

Tick Borne Encephalitis

Yellow Fever

Cholera

Prices are subject to change.

Payment is required on the day you have your first appointment.

Before attending for any travel appointment you are advised to seek information from your travel operator and online travel advice services;

Before You Go

Well before travelling abroad, check with your travel agent or the tourist office/embassy of the country you intend to visit on any special precautions you may need to take. Many countries require more than one immunisation. At least two months before departure, discuss any vaccination requirements with your doctor or the practice nurse. Pack a small first aid kit containing adhesive dressings, insect repellent, antiseptic cream and water purification tablets.

HIV travellers’ kits are available from the practice.

Eating And Drinking

Attention to water and food quality is crucial, especially in less developed countries. Factory bottled water is usually less likely to carry infections than tap water. Water sterilisation tablets can be helpful - particularly at altitude where water cannot be sterilised by boiling it. Fruit and vegetables should be washed in clean water. Meat and egg quality may be poor and therefore these should be well cooked and NOT eaten ‘rare’.

Food should NOT be re-frozen or re-heated.

Sun Protection Sun exposure causing sunburn puts you at risk of skin cancers in later life, some of which are very difficult to treat. Prevention is better than cure. Appropriate clothing and headgear is the best protection, but if you must tan your body, aim to do it slowly and be sure to use suncreams of sufficiently high protection against UVA and UVB. Note that these are considerably more expensive than standard products, many of which only protect against UVA. In hot climates drink plenty of non-alcoholic drinks. If you are not passing water regularly, you are not drinking enough.

Mosquito Bite Prevention

By day: Use repellents which contain agents such as diethyl tolbutamide on exposed skin or on appropriate garments.

After sunset: Wear clothing which covers you fully when out of doors.

Overnight: Sleep in appropriately screened rooms and use a knock down spray to kill mosquitoes which have accidentally found their way in. If this is not possible, use mosquito netting around the bed. Tuck it in under the mattress before nightfall. Nets work best if impregnated with a permethrin-based spray every six months. Also use an electric pyrethroid vapouriser or burn a mosquito coil.

Insect Bites

Topical antihistamines can help. Seek medical advice if the bitten area becomes infected.

Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Anti-diarrhoeal medications should in general be avoided unless there is a pressing reason taking you out of reach of loos - they may cause the illness to be prolonged! There are few diarrhoeal illnesses which need specific medical intervention.

Diarrhoea And Vomiting

This is unpleasant but generally short-lived. Avoiding dehydration is the mainstay of treatment. Even if still vomiting, ensure you take frequent sips of clean, non-fizzy, clear fluids such as squashes and plain water. Most episodes settle spontaneously. Consult a doctor if vomiting is prolonged.

Cuts And Bruises

Cleanse the wound and apply fresh clean dressings daily. Avoid repeated or prolonged salt water immersion. Consult a doctor if infection is suspected.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

Thrombosis can occur on long haul flights. Exercise during the flight is the best protection. Special socks are available from chemists.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

These are very common in some countries. Condoms offer some protection.

Health Insurance

Ensure that you have adequate health insurance when abroad.

On Your Return

If you fall ill, don’t forget to tell your doctor that you have travelled abroad. If you have received treatment abroad, tell your own doctor on your return. When donating blood, tell the transfusion staff which countries you have visited.